The most enduring ‘’old married couple’’ Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are still going strong. Here are some things you didn’t know about their marriage.
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Third cousins
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Queen Victoria’s eldest son was King Edward VI, whose eldest son was King George V, whose second son was Elizabeth’s father, King George VI. Queen Victoria’s second daughter and the third child was Princess Alice, whose daughter, Princess Victoria of Hesse, was the mother of Princess Alice of Battenberg, Philip’s mother. That makes both of them great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria.
Second cousins once removed
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King Edward VII’s wife, Alexandra was a daughter of King Christian IX. Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark (Philip’s father) was a son of King George I of Greece, who was a son of King Christian IX.
Where did they meet
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During the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece to Prince George, Duke of Kent in 1934, Queen Elizabeth II, who was 8 years old at the time and Prince Philip, who was 13, met for the first time.
Engagement
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King George VI requested that the news of their engagement was kept a secret for a while. Kin George was afraid that his daughter as too young to be married, and he wanted the public to accept Philip, due to his tough childhood and his background. They announced that they are engaged in 1947.
Love
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“I ask nothing more than that Philip and I should be as happy as my father and mother have been,” Elizabeth shared during her wedding breakfast. “Our daughter is marrying the man she loves,” said the King.
Surname
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Philip gave up his citizenship when he married Queen Elizabeth II. He wanted Elizabeth to carry on his surname Mountbatten when she became the Queen, but they fell into a disagreement when Elizabeth chose her own surname, Windsor instead of his.
Prince
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In 1957 Elizabeth honored her husband and she issued Letters Patent granting Philip “the style and titular dignity of a Prince of the United Kingdom” and decreed it her “will and pleasure” that henceforth be known as His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Early years
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During their first years as the married couple, they lived ordinary lives. Prince Philip was stationed on the island of Malta as an officer of the Royal Navy, and Elizabeth was enjoying everything a normal girl enjoys.
Children
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Prince Charles was first to arrive in 1948. Princess Anne was born in 1950, Prince Andrew in 1960, and their fourth child Prince Edward was born in 1964.
Endurance
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Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II were the first royal couple to have celebrated Diamond Wedding anniversary – 60 years of marriage in 2007. In 2017 they became the first royal couple to have celebrated the Platinum anniversary.
Consort
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In 2009 Prince Philip became the longest-serving British consort. A consort is monarch’s spouse.
PDA
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The royal couple has been rarely seen publicly displaying affection. Gyles Brandreth stated how the couple believes in the “stoic values” of their generation, and that is why they haven’t been displaying affection in the public.
Separate bedrooms
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“You don’t want to be bothered with snoring or someone flinging a leg around,” revealed Lady Hicks to the Express UK. “It is lovely to be able to choose.”
Source: rd.com
